This situation and Gu Xiaotong's previous case seem to be somewhat different. In our previous investigation and analysis, Gu Xiaotong was suddenly abducted.
I summarized my findings and suddenly noticed a barely perceptible fingernail mark on the victim's neck. I extracted some epidermal fibers from it and examined them under a microscope. To my surprise, I found half a fingernail attached.
Its surface appeared very rough, and it didn't match the victim's fingers. I quickly said, "Chuchu, this fingernail doesn't belong to the victim. Please verify it; you might be able to extract DNA from it!"
Normally, such a trace wouldn't be visible under a microscope, but with the aid of seaweed ash and the special application method of the Yin-Yang Brush, the injury became very apparent, allowing me to discover that tiny half-fingernail.
I asked Xie Chuchu to continue with the autopsy while I went to the Special Investigation Team office, next to He Xin.
He Xin is a highly skilled technician who serves as the head of the Technical Department in our police bureau. However, she is less than 20 years old. Given her age, she was naturally brought in through a special recruitment.
In fact, she has such authority because of my assistance.
He Xin shares the same surname as me. She was originally the daughter of a victim's family whose case I was investigating. I met her because her parents died in a murder case.
She was quite pitiful at the time, with no other relatives to adopt her besides her parents. Seeing how bright the girl was, I couldn't bear to send her to a welfare institution, so I adopted her.
She is exceptionally cute but has a bit of a spoiled temper. She is slender and doesn't particularly like wearing her police uniform to work.
She has a fondness for lollipops and wears a pair of heavy sunglasses. In her early years, she was just an ordinary girl, but after my guidance, she became highly proficient in hacking. Through many years of hard work, she has gradually become the head of the Technical Department she is today.
At this moment, she was busy with surveillance matters. Upon noticing my arrival, she opened up nine grid screens to watch with me.
Gao Mingqiang was also by our side.
After a series of fast-forwarding actions, around 3 AM the previous night, we discovered a dark figure entering the vicinity of the bridge underpass. Before that, a girl had also arrived at the underpass.
The girl's appearance, height, and weight were consistent with the victim's. The dark figure's height and weight were also close to our previous estimations. This person was undoubtedly the murderer.
However, due to the extreme darkness surrounding the area, coupled with the obstruction of straw everywhere, our vision was disrupted. The perpetrator was also extremely well-concealed, wearing a baseball cap and a mask, making it impossible for us to see their face.
Furthermore, there were no more visuals after they crossed the road. The last time we saw them on surveillance was on Fushui Highway West, near the bridge underpass.
"Based on this person's physical characteristics, run a search through the Sky Eye system and bring this person to justice!" I commanded.
"I know, Dad!" He Xin replied, her fingers beginning their familiar twitching mode. Gao Mingqiang and several technical officers were assisting her. At this stage, it should be time to apprehend the criminal. I hoped they could quickly identify the suspect.
I rubbed my eyes and walked back into my office. I brewed a cup of tea, took a sip, stretched my shoulders, and then sat down to open my computer.
The computer was working fine, but for some reason, it suddenly displayed many water ripples.
I thought something was wrong and gave the LCD screen a forceful tap, but the water ripples increased, and a hissing sound emanated from the speakers next to the host. A pale face appeared on the screen, and a strange woman was repeatedly smashing her forehead against it!
*Thump, thump...*
I was startled by what I saw and quickly stood up from my office chair, stepping back a few paces. The woman seemed to be moving on the screen, as if trying to climb out of it. I couldn't help but draw my gun in readiness. Suddenly, the woman vanished, and the screen returned to normal.
It was a close-up photo of He Xin and me; it was my computer desktop.
I looked around, unsure of what had just happened. Was I too tired and hallucinating?
What I just saw was so terrifying. Could it have been...?
I shook my head vigorously. As a law enforcement officer, how could I believe such things?
I immediately dismissed the idea as silly and absurd.
Composing myself, I regained a bit of clarity and went to the restroom to splash some water on my face. I kept telling myself, "It must have been a hallucination, it must have been!"
Perhaps I was just tired. After I cleared my head, I planned to go directly to the consultant's office in the Special Investigation Team to rest. On the second floor of the bureau, there was a room specially arranged for me, a privilege I had in the police station. Director Huang had arranged it for me previously.
To allow me to work better at the police station, having this place to rest meant I didn't have to go home when busy, and it was convenient for commuting.
I covered myself with the blanket on the bed and fell asleep.
I was awakened by a familiar ringtone. Opening my eyes, I fumbled for my phone. It was He Xin calling. I assumed they had screened suitable candidates, so I answered immediately, "How's it going? Any results?"
"Dad, I think you should come over!"
"Alright!" I knew He Xin was a bit overwhelmed. When I arrived beside her, she was typing away at the keyboard. Soon, the screen, which had originally displayed eighteen grids, quickly shifted to nine grids with astonishing speed.
Facing countless complex images, I maximized my visual acuity.
"Fast forward!"
"2x! 4x! 8x! Not enough, speed it up!"
"16x!" As my voice rang out, a police officer nearby exclaimed, "Consultant He, what can you possibly see at this speed?"
"Stop talking nonsense and just fast forward!" He Xin continued pressing the fast-forward button.
"Stop! Zoom in on the white trash cans near the park and the road!"
At this moment, we witnessed a man on the screen who had appeared near the crime scene around the time of the incident!
"Immediately check this person's information!" I commanded as soon as I saw his face appear on the surveillance.
"Shi Jing tong, 35 years old. He used to be a doctor at Hexin Central Hospital but was recently fired. This person's many characteristics are very similar to what Yu Ning analyzed!" He Xin replied.
"Good, then proceed with the arrest immediately!"
I hung up the phone and immediately went to Director Huang's office. Knowing I was coming, Director Huang handed me an arrest warrant: "I've already applied for it for you."
"Thank you, Director Huang. I'll go make the arrest now!"
"Yes, He Sheng, handle it properly!"
Director Huang usually called me by my name. We had a close relationship. I had been helping him since my father's time.
He is a man of calm disposition and an exceptionally hearty voice. Sometimes he is unkempt, and sometimes he is meticulously organized. He began to gain weight after middle age, and his hair started to thin. I remember when he was young, he was handsome, dashing, full of integrity, and imposing.
Time is indeed a very sharp butcher's knife.
It was at this moment that I took the cigarette I had tucked behind my ear and lit it. It was a habit of mine. Before I could figure things out, I would place a cigarette behind my ear. Once I had a lead, I would take a hearty drag.
"Heh heh, He Sheng, I remember you didn't smoke back then. Now that you've been working for a long time, you've picked up our habits."
"It's like this. Sometimes, many cases are very complicated, and my mind is in a mess. Nicotine just stimulates my nerves."
"That makes sense, that makes sense. You and He Guanghui are so alike, even your speech patterns and tone are similar."
"I'm far from being like my father. Don't always compare me to him. Director Huang, I'm heading out!"
"Go ahead! You two are both my lucky stars. Fuming City's public order was originally quite chaotic, but since your appearance, it has completely changed."
I walked out of Director Huang's office. The sound of a siren approached. I exited the police station and, along with Liu Yuning, Gao Mingqiang, and others, went out on duty. According to He Xin's instructions, the perpetrator was currently located near a mountain forest. This was where the Sky Eye system had captured his current position. Shi Jing tong was probably planning to escape.
We arrived near the mountain forest together. After parking the car, a police dog followed us as we got out. Besides Liu Yuning and Gao Mingqiang, several detectives were also deployed, making it about 10 people in total.
Upon seeing the police dog, Gao Mingqiang said, "This is a police dog I specifically arranged. What do you think of her?"
"A police dog? Do you think this little girl can handle it?" Liu Yuning seemed not to have much faith in "Xiao Niu."
"She's very capable. She previously helped the anti-drug team find a drug den."
"Just lucky, right!" For some reason, Liu Yuning was so dismissive of the police dog. In my memory, police dogs were indeed quite formidable, not just artistic portrayals in movies, but so in reality.
Xiao Niu seemed to understand Liu Yuning's comment next to her and directly pulled Gao Mingqiang and ran off.